My mother's yard: three generations of women in agriculture and horticulture

Katrien Verstraete My mother's yard Three generations of farm life Flemish farmers and gardeners are invisible but indispensable. For decades, they have been the linchpin of the farming family and the company they run together with their husbands. They rolled into farming from one day to the next or were familiar with it from childhood. For some, 'farming' was a girl's dream. For others, it was something they would never do later, until one day they bumped into a farmer... The farmers' wives have never received much attention as 'wives of'. My mother's yard lets the voices be heard of dozens of farmers and gardeners, young and old, from all corners of Flanders. Women for whom further study was out of the question for a long time - after all, they had to milk, churn and harvest. Women who consciously or unconsciously gave up their jobs to fully devote themselves to farming or who went back to work. Women who married and did not always have it easy with their parents-in-law. They testify about their connection with nature and animals, about the role of the Boerinnenbond and other organisations, about their love for the craft. A love that is constantly put to the test by the high investment pressure, the fierce competition, the uncertain future, the increasing stress, the administrative hassle, the image that is stuck on them and the lack of respect from many consumers and policy makers. Some female farmers are tired of fighting. Others do not give up and are boldly taking new paths. They want to continue to believe in agriculture and horticulture and fight for what they have given their hearts to: being a farmer. Katrien Verstraete (1974) is a journalist at the Belga press agency, where she mainly follows agricultural dossiers. October 2002 Illustrated Paperback 17x22 – 256 pages Price: €19.95 ISBN 90 5617 409 6 NUR 948 From my yard!